A mysterious being appears before a person and announces the exact time of their death.
When that moment arrives, supernatural executioners appear and publicly condemn the victim to hell.
But the real horror of Hellbound is not only the monsters.
Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok show what happens when an inexplicable phenomenon is given a religious explanation, fear becomes a tool of power and society begins deciding who deserves punishment.
The Ukrainian edition of Hellbound is published in two volumes.
What Is Hellbound?
Hellbound was created by director and writer Yeon Sang-ho and artist Choi Gyu-seok.
Yeon Sang-ho is also known for directing Train to Busan. The original webtoon later became the basis for the Netflix series of the same name.
At its core, Hellbound combines supernatural horror with social thriller, dystopia and religious satire.
1. Hellbound: Volume 1
Everything begins with so-called decrees.
A supernatural figure appears before a person, says their name and announces the exact date and time when they will be sent to hell.
At the appointed moment, three enormous creatures arrive and carry out the sentence.
No one knows what these beings are, where they come from or why certain people are chosen.
Against this background, a religious movement called the New Truth grows in influence. It claims that the executions are proof of divine justice.
Fear quickly becomes ideology, while public executions are used as evidence that a new moral order has arrived.
Read it if: you like dystopias, religious horror and stories about mass hysteria.
2. Hellbound: Volume 2
By the second volume, society has already changed.
Public demonstrations have become part of everyday reality, fear of decrees has entered ordinary life and people increasingly depend on cults, religious explanations and online propaganda.
The central question becomes even sharper:
If no one understands the real rules behind the punishments, who gets the right to explain them to everyone else?
The second volume expands the social and political side of the story, showing how quickly uncertainty can turn into control.
Read it if: the religious, political and social aspects of Volume 1 interested you more than the monsters themselves.
Hellbound Reading Order
The reading order is simple:
Both volumes are part of the Hellbound series at Knyzhkovyi Lev.
What Makes Hellbound Different from Ordinary Horror?
The monsters matter, but they are not the main subject.
The real horror comes from how people react.
Some interpret the supernatural executions as proof of divine justice.
Others use them to build a new religious movement.
Still others begin persecuting the condemned before the punishment has even happened.
That makes Hellbound several things at once:
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supernatural horror;
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dystopian fiction;
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social thriller;
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religious horror;
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a story about punishment and justice;
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a critique of propaganda and mass hysteria.
Hellbound and the Netflix Series
The Netflix adaptation is based directly on the webtoon by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok.
The first season premiered in 2021.
The second season was released on October 25, 2024 and continued the story beyond the events of the first season, including the theme of resurrection.
The screen adaptation follows the same central premise but expands the world, characters and political consequences of the decrees.
Should You Read the Manhwa After Watching Netflix?
Yes.
The story will be familiar, but the format changes the experience.
The manhwa gives more space to facial expressions, pauses, fear and the gradual transformation of society.
It is especially interesting after the series if you want to see the original version of Hellbound before its adaptation for television.
Who Will Enjoy Hellbound?
Choose this series if you like:
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Korean thrillers;
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dystopian fiction;
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religious horror;
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social science fiction;
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stories about cults;
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moral dilemmas;
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mass hysteria;
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Train to Busan and Yeon Sang-ho’s work.
Quick Answers
Is Hellbound manga or manhwa?
It is a Korean webtoon, so manhwa or webtoon is more accurate than the Japanese term manga.
Who created Hellbound?
The story was created by Yeon Sang-ho, with artwork by Choi Gyu-seok.
How many Hellbound volumes are available in Ukrainian?
The Knyzhkovyi Lev series page currently includes two volumes.
Which volume should I start with?
Volume 1. The story is continuous.
Can I read Hellbound after watching the Netflix series?
Yes. The manhwa is the original source material and offers a different pacing and visual experience.
Is the original story complete?
The original Hellbound webtoon is complete. A separate continuation, Hellbound 2: The Resurrected, also exists.
Choose Hellbound
If you want Korean horror where the most frightening part is not only the supernatural creatures but how quickly fear can become religion, politics and social control, start with Hellbound: Volume 1 and continue with Volume 2.
